Meseches shasbbos 107b says that it is muttar to kill a louse on shabbos because lice are a product of spontaneous generation instead of reproduction. Could this possibly be referring to an extinct species of lice that once emerged through spontaneous generation and have since died out? If not, how is it possible for there to be actual halacha predicated on a scientific error?
I also have a similar question in regards to mayim shelanu. From my understanding the reasoning for mayim shelanu is that chazal believed that spring water is heated by the sun’s passage underneath the earth. Again, how is it possible for there to be actual halacha predicated on a scientific error? Please don’t call me a kofer, I’m just trying to better understand all of this.
submitted by /u/Level_End418
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Source: Reditt
